New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-19
EIGGINS Is TIE COT.

H. is now definitely announced that Higgins
will retire on the first of January. This means
that Higgins has sacrificed himself and volIrn-
tcclcd to play the goat. The story is told that
\ preacher was once describing to his congIc-
cation the tcrrorS Of the Judgment Day, when
The sheep should be parted from the goats.
"Who will dare" he cried, to stand among
The goats upon that awful day~ The question
was repeated and the speaker paused as if for
n reply. There was a simple minded Sca-larlng
man in the gallery who quietly arose and sand,
81 never takes dare, and if the fun can't 90
without it, I'll be the goat.'
This is the noble attitude Of Mr.. Higgins a
goat is absolutely necessary to the Democratic
,artv inst at this crisis. The Presidential cleo
ton is coming on fast. Mr.. Ccvcland's record
,mon the reform Of the Civil Service has been
so riddlcd by the Rcformcrs themselves that
he must do something to make favorable I'M
preston upon the country. If he could ind
some conSpicuously unfit man to drive from
Office. or if he could revoke some appointment
Of his own that has been much criticised, after
having got all the political benefit from it there
was TO be had he would be in n far more i'm
prcssvc attitude 1t had become absolutely
necessary to separate the sheep from the goats,
and the difficulty was to find some one who
would play the goat. The Democratic Office
holders all preferred to play sheep, and keep on
browsing At this critical iuncturc Higgins
unScfShly came forward. He will accordingly
be banishcd into the outer darkness Of private
life where there will be apparently weeping
and crashing Of teeth, but as the goat goes.
the initiated Will perceive a suspicion, twinkle
in his left eye
1t may be, however. that higgins is to play
goat Of another kind. Once year the children
Of Israel were directed TO choose by lot goat
who should be a scapc- goat for them and bear
their sins away into the wilderness. Aaron
was told to bring the goat before the altar, and
lay both his hands upon the goats head. and
confess over him all the inquiiicS Of the
children Of Israel. and all their tranSgrcSSionS
in I'll their sins putting them upon the head ol
the goat, and sending him away by the hand Of
n fit man into the wilderness. "And the goat,
il was said, shall bear upon HIM all their
minutes unto land not inhabited and he
shall let the goat go in the Wilderness This
j. what is TO happen now with Higgins. Mr..
Cleveland is Aaron. and he will lay his hands
upon the head Of the goat, and confess over
him all the iniquitlcs Of the Democratic party.
and all their transgrcssions in all their SINS
especially Of the Cleveland Administration. and
expect this one poor animal TO stand under TINS
staggering load. We don't see how single
bacl, hone is 10 bear it all. particularly tho
mountain Of broken pledges as TO Civil Service
Reform. which Higgins peculiarly represents
and which it is earnestly desired shall be Ic-
moved 10 the wilderness, or anywhere else TO
get it out Of sight. But Higgins has evidently
braccd himself for the task. and VIII do his
best. Now if it is a question Of lit man to
lead him 10 the wilderness, who 50 appropriate
As Boss German? The Boss will lead HIM
gently, for higgins has served HIM well. The
goat will follow mcckly for he knows his
master, and truStingly because he is sure that.
even in the wilderness, the Boss viii not let
his faithful goat suffer-